On November 5th, I attended the Camino Health Center Fashion Show at the Monarch Beach Resort. There was a silent auction where we could bid on high end fashion items, and a sumptuous gourmet lunch was served. [Read more…]

Our San Clemente Villas is a part of the beautiful beach city of San Clemente California. In my mind this city is one of the loveliest places to live anywhere in the world. From one location you can look to your left and see mountains, or look to your right to see the ocean, and in the downtown area of San Clemente you see the red tile roofs that are the trademark of the founder of this seaside city. [Read more…]

I was searching for something to inspire this blog post and as I read many of the headlines, the words began to make me feel a little sad. Everything is so fraught with anxiety these days. It can be difficult to see there is good in the world.

Then I came across this quote from Andrew Carnegie
“A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine.”

I believe this is what I try to show the world. I work in an industry that sometimes has more than the normal share of bad news. When you work with an aging population, there is plenty of joy to go around and inspire. But there are times when people fall ill or pass away, and certainly those are not joyful times.

I try my best to keep a positive attitude, a smile on my face and maintain what Andrew Carnegie might call a sunny disposition. No matter what, I will do what I can to make people feel valued, cared for and important. I have days when that’s easier than others, and yes, I have some days when I just don’t feel very sunny. Overall, no matter how I feel in the moment, I do my best to remember that I have much to be thankful for and I put a smile back on my face.

What do people see when they meet you? If they see someone who looks angry and stressed out then perhaps you should make it a priority to take care of yourself. To do something that will make you feel better. If you can muster up the energy, take a walk and make a list of things you can feel good about. Call a friend and have a chat.

Look at your reflection as you walk by a store window and see yourself as a stranger might see you. Then let yourself smile. That could change your day. Smile, and perhaps people will smile back and you may just feel a little better.

I see too many men and women who become very passive about their health care. They have a pain, and they go to see their physician and ask for a pill. I believe there are better ways to manage health care and pills should be a remedy of last resort.

If you are stiff and sore, use some natural oils and a rice pack to relieve the pain. And then move! The more sedentary you become, the more stiff and sore you will be when you finally move. If it hurts too much to go for a long walk, then take a series of short walks. Put some great music on and dance for 10 minutes. Then sit down and gently stretch.

Get a massage as often as you can afford to. If you find the right massage therapist, he or she can help you to relax those tense muscles,and break up those calcium deposits that can cause pressure and pain. Eat less sugar and wheat, both of which can cause inflammation, which in turns can be the cause of pain.

Meditation is a wonderful way to move pain away from your body. Don’t forget to stretch either. Stretching can help ease the tension which builds up in your muscles when you have been in the same position for a long time.

“Prepare for a doctor visit. “Write down symptoms you’re having, how long you’ve had them, what makes them better, what remedies you’ve tried,” Vij suggests. That will help the doctor make a better diagnosis.

Bring your medications to the doctor. “Don’t just bring me a list. I need to see the bottles and have you tell me what you’re taking and when,” Vij explains. “And don’t forget to bring supplements. Sometimes they can interact with medications.”

Ask questions and share concerns. “Sometimes people are intimidated,” Vij says. “But be upfront with what you’re worried about. Maybe there’s something confusing about a treatment plan. Or maybe you want a certain test. Don’t be afraid to ask.”

Develop a relationship with your doctor. “You have to tell your doctor what makes life worth living for you,” Perskin points out. “It helps the doctor understand the kind of advice you need to make a decision about your treatment.”

It’s good to have a physician you are comfortable with, but remember, ultimately your health care is in your hands. You have to take an active role in decisions about your health.

I don’t know about you, but to me, it feels like Birthdays come faster and faster each year. It seems like we just put away the candles from a birthday celebration and oh my gosh, it’s that time once again. I am not certain just why that happens, but I can assure it does.

Happy Birthday Paul

Family

The best part of birthdays

I cherish each birthday Paul and I celebrate together. Life goes by more slowly when we are younger. We spend our wishes on wanting to be a grown up, so we can do all these things that grown ups get to do. But as we get older we find out that along with the ability to choose what we wish to do, comes the responsibilities of being an adult. Suddenly being a grown up can seem just a little less appealing.

Then there comes a time when we have accomplished so much in our lives. There are milestones passed and goal acheived, and suddenly the thrill of the chase is gone and we are more content to take a few moments to rest and relax and not rush about.

At these times in our lives, we are more apt to remember that each birthday is a gift. There are times in our lives when the birthday gifts are the most important thing about our birthdays, but there are also times when the gift of family good friends and health take over in importance.

So, my wish for you is simple. Enjoy everyday, the good one and even the bad ones. For each day we get to spend with each other is precious.

Today I want to address a special topic. I am calling it the importance of doing things now. I feel like is time to have a conversation about how it’s never too late to start reconnecting with people in our lives and sharing laughter with them. [Read more…]

Some parts of the country have the desert and warm weather all year round. Other parts of the country have the four seasons, summer, winter, spring and fall. If it’s winter, you are stuck with cold, damp, freezing temperatures until the change of season. In Southern California, you can have all of those seasons, practically when you choose, in one geographical area.

If you have never been to southern California, you may think it’s all surf and sand, and for parts of our area, that is true. But what you might not know is this. Within an hour or two, one can go from surf and sand, to skiing and sledding. Or, from cold, rainy , coastal weather, to the warmth and sunny weather of the desert. All of this with our beautiful mountains as a backdrop.

From San Clemente, you can take a quick trip to the Mountains and be in the sweet, mountain town of Idyllwild. It looks like an idyllic ski resort from somewhere in the mountains of Europe, yet its only a couple of hours away from San Clemente.

Love mid-century architecture? Then in a couple of hours the other way, you can be in Palm Springs. Travel down the streets where the old Hollywood stars bought vacation homes. The Rat Pack, Bob Hope, all had homes there at one time or another. It’s a great place to warm up from the gloom of mid March in San Clemente.

Should you really want an adventure, you could venture out of Southern California and head north toward San Francisco and on up to Lake Tahoe. The mountains are magnificent in Tahoe. You can gamble, ski and on the way back , stop in the wine country for some special vino and pampering.

I know, I am sounding like a travel agent. Really, I just want to share with you why I love it here so very much.

I am so fortunate as to have family members on both my side of the family and on Paul’s side, to spend the holidays with. Paul and I also have some really close friends who are just like family, and they take the time to celebrate with us, too. Holidays can be tough for those who have lost most of their close friends and loved ones.

It’s important to always look around and take notice of those who are without people to share these times with, and to make them feel welcomed and loved. I would like to share some photos from my 2017 family gatherings and to take this time to wish you all the best at the end of 2017 and a Happy New Year for 2018. Life is not all parties and gatherings, so to be able to balance out the more challenging aspects of life with sharing happy times with our family is so important to me.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The champagne is flowing the cookies are everywhere and big, festive parties are happening every weekend. So, in between all of these wonderful things, we have to try and eat right or things will just get out of control. They say if we aren’t careful, during the holidays we can gain as much as 15 pounds.

So what can you do? First, try your very best to stay as active as possible. If you are too busy for all of your regular gym workouts, then at least do this. When you go shopping, park farther away from the store and walk. Take an extra lap or two around the store or the mall. At night, when you are putting things away, take an extra trip, don’t pile yourself up with things.

And, when you are not at a party, try to eat right. Fill up on leafy green salads and vegetables and lean protein. Chicken, fish, legumes and leave off the rich sauces and go light on the butter.

Opt for healthier choices, such as:

3.5 ounces of lean chicken or salmon (31 g and 24 g respectively)

6 ounces of plain Greek yogurt (17 g)

1 cup of skim milk (9 g)

1 cup of cooked beans (about 18 g).

Protein powders can offer about 30 g per scoop and can be added to all kinds of meals like oatmeal, shakes, and yogurt. While food sources are the best, supplemental protein can help if you struggle with consuming enough calories and protein from your regular diet.

When you do have time to fit in a work out, do more with weights and less cardio. In order to maximize muscle growth and improve recovery, it is suggested that consuming a drink or meal with a carbohydrate-to-protein ratio of about three-to-one or four-to-one within 30 minutes after your workout is key. Muscle burns more calories than fat, which means some of those crazy things you have been indulging in could actually get burned off. Some, not all…

As this years comes to a close, I was thinking about some things. For all of us, at one time or another, life can get pretty stressful. Sometimes we get stress from things going on in our own lives, but often, it’s from things that are happening to people we love. I was wondering what could be done to help move away from the stress and keep more of those happy feelings in my soul.

I came across a great post in, of all things, Reader’s Digest. Here are some excerpts from their post. I hope then help you live your best life:

“Smile… To Spread Happiness

“The simplest and most reliable way to make someone smile is to smile at him,” says Marianne LaFrance, a Yale University psychology professor and the author of the book Lip Service.

“Smiles are the most contagious kind of facial expression, even among people who don’t know each other,” LaFrance says. That’s because seeing a smile and showing a smile originate from the same area of the brain.

Skeptical you can change your world by just smiling more often? LaFrance suggests trying this experiment: For one day, vow to not smile at anyone. The next day, smile at everyone.

Then compare both days. Chances are the second day will be one of the best you’ve had in a long time.

…..

Sleep Well for Seven Hours a Night … To Look Younger

Researchers at University Hospitals Case Medical Center have shown for the first time that poor sleep can contribute significantly to looking older. Women ages 30 to 49 who said they usually slept fitfully had more fine lines and wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and reduced skin elasticity and recovery than those who said they regularly slept well for at least seven hours per night.

Sleep acts as a repair shop for the skin, according to Jeffrey Benabio, MD, physician director of healthcare transformation at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. While you’re snoozing, inflammation subsides, soothing conditions such as eczema and acne.
“Beyond using sunscreen and not smoking, the best thing anyone can do to preserve his or her looks is to get a healthy seven to nine hours of sleep every night,” explains Dr. Benabio.”

These are just two of the examples of things we can all do to bring more happiness into our lives. If you would like to read the rest of the post, here is the link: https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/key-moves-live-your-best-life/